News Release

For Immediate Release: August 14, 2007

Headline: Daniel Falcucci Leads By 2 Strokes at 2007 Massachusetts Public Links Championship

Bellingham, MA – A field of 99 of the state's best daily-fee players met with near perfect conditions today during the first round of the Massachusetts Public Links Championship, which is being held this week at New England Country Club in Bellingham.

Leading the charge following the first of two days of play is a golfer looking to capture the top spot after coming oh-so-close just one year ago. Daniel Falcucci (Cyprian Keyes GC), who finished as runner-up at this event last year, currently holds a two-stroke lead over the field following a solid, flawless 2-under par 69.

Falcucci, a Northborough resident, made his first birdie on the 397-yard, par 4 2nd hole. Following 15 straight pars, he capped off his round with a birdie on the 428-yard, par 4 finishing hole.

Three players stand two back at even par 71 – Dan Mastrototaro (Cyprian Keyes GC), David Holmes (Blackstone National GC) and Bill Drohen (Bradford CC).

Drohen, the two-time and defending champion, was on fire on the front nine as he made birdies on the 2nd, 3rd and 8th holes. The back nine was not as kind to the Danvers resident as he finished with three bogeys through his final five holes to drop to even par on the day. Mastrototaro was the first to post his even par 71 as he finished with three birdies and three bogeys on the day. Holmes, meanwhile, posted two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine and one birdie and one bogey on the back nine.

Another notable golfer competing today was 2007 Massachusetts Amateur Champion Burgess Houston (Maplegate CC), who stands in a five-way tie for fifth place with a score of 1-over par 72. Houston, much like Drohen, was unstoppable on the front nine as he too posted a 3-under par 33. Houston made birdie on the 1st, 5th and 8th holes. The back nine took a toll on the recently-turned 25 year old as he made four bogeys down the stretch.

Four-time George M. Cohen Senior Player of the Year Jim Ruschioni (Indian Meadows GC) made his Massachusetts Public Links Championship debut this year and posted a 2-over par 73. Ruschioni, the reigning Massachusetts Senior Champion, was on fire during the early stages of his round as he made three birdies and zero bogies to make the turn at 3-under par 33. On the back nine, the wily veteran ran into some trouble as he finished with five bogeys to drop four shots off the lead.

The entire 99-player field will return to New England Country Club on Wednesday for a second and final round of play. The lead group of Falcucci, Holmes and Mastrototaro is scheduled to tee off at 12:18 p.m.